Page:The Annual Register 1758.djvu/84

 certainly, if our expeditions to the coast of France were planned with any judgment, on our part we had rather reaSon to congratulate ourselves that we were able to land three times on that coast, with so inconsiderable a loss. The French indeed had reason to magnify this loss; and they did greatly magnify it, in order to console their people, who had seen their trade suffer so much, and their country so long insulted with impunity.

Whatever our successes were on the coast of France, they did not affect us in the same manner with those which we had in America. From this part of the world we had long been strangers to any thing, but delays, misfortunes, disappointments, and disgraces. But the spirit which had been roused at home, diffused itself into all parts of the world where we had any concern, and invigorated all our operations.

Admiral Boscawen with a powerful fleet of men of war, with several transports, sailed for Halifax, from England, Feb. 19th. He had the chief command of the expedition against Louisbourg, and in particular the direction of the naval operations. General Amherst, from whose character great things were expected, and who justified these expectations, was to command the land forces. These amounted to about 14,000 men, including some light troops, fitted for the peculiar service of the country. The whole fleet, consisting of 151 ships, set sail from the harbour of Halifax. On the second of June they appeared before Louisbourg. They were six days on the coast before a landing was found practicable; such a prodigious surf swelled all along the shore, that no boat could possibly live near it. The French not trusting to this obstacle, had drawn entrenchments in every part where it might be possible to land, supported them with batteries in convenient places, and lined them with a numerous infantry.

At length the surf, though violent at best, was observed to be somewhat abated, and the admiral and general did not lose a moment to avail themselves of this first opportunity of landing; they made all their dispofitions for it with the highest judgment. They ordered the frigates towards the enemy's right and left, to rake them on their flanks. Then the troops were disposed for landing in three divisions. That on the left was commanded by General Wolfe, and was destined to the real attack. The divisions in the center, and to the right, were only designed for feigned attacks to draw the enemy's attention to all parts, and to distract their defence.

When the fire of the frigates had continued about a quarter of an hour, General Wolfe's division moved towards the land; the enemy reserved their shot until the boats were near the shore, and then directed the whole fire of their cannon and musquetry upon them. The surf aided their fire. Many of the boats overset, many were broke to pieces, the men jumped into the water, some were killed, some drowned; the rest, fupported and encouraged, in all difficulties, by the example, spirit, and conduct of their truly gallant commander, gained the shore, took post, fell upon the enemy with such order and resolution, that they soon obliged them to fly in confusion. As soon as this post was made good, the center moved towards